Chichibu! Summer Festival!! Kawase Festival!!! July 19 & 20 🎆
The Chichibu Kawase Festival, held every year on July 19 and 20, is the summer festival of Chichibu Shrine and is also known in Chichibu as “O-Gion.”
It is said to be the counterpart to the Chichibu Night Festival in winter—a daytime festival compared to the night festival, a summer festival compared to the winter one, and a festival for children compared to one for adults. It is a festival centered on children; the sight of them serving as the “hayashi-te” (musicians) for the kasaboko and yatai floats—the stars of the festival—and as “hyōshigi” (clappers) wearing hanagasa hats is particularly charming.
During the Yoi-matsuri on July 19, starting in the afternoon, eight magnificent Kasaboko floats and Yatai will be paraded through the streets to the sound of the Chichibu Yatai Hayashi music. In the evening, the kasaboko and yatai will gather at Chichibu Shrine, where the “Tenno-bashira-tate Ritual” will be performed to welcome Susanoo-no-Mikoto, who is enshrined at Hinomisaki Shrine within the shrine grounds. The light from the lanterns and paper lanterns illuminating the shrine grounds creates a truly magical atmosphere.
During the grand festival on the 20th, the parade of festival floats begins in the morning, and around noon, the Kasaboko and Yatai floats gather at the Chichibu Shrine grounds and set off for “Okawase” ahead of the divine procession. Shortly after 2:30 p.m., the “Mikoshi-arai Ceremony” takes place, during which the white-wooden shrine mikoshi—weighing approximately 400 kg—is lowered into the clear waters of the Arakawa River. In the evening, the festival floats are paraded along the main streets, with highlights including the “Suretachi” (passing each other) and “Hikibare” (farewell procession) scenes.
Reiwa 8 Fireworks Display Schedule
Fireworks (as in previous years) Sunday, July 19, Reiwa 8, starting at 7:30 p.m. (approx. 30 minutes) Launch Site: Hitsujiyama Park
Farm Hotel: Rooms are available. Please make a reservation. We look forward to seeing you.
